hot chocolate

There are few things I love more than chocolate. These “things” have names and frequently can be found roaming around my home. Seriously, outside of my family and cats, few things hold my attention or affection as much as chocolate. Hot chocolate is, as far as I’m concerned, liquid Heaven. Some people try one hot chocolate recipe and stick with it for life – kind of like they took a hot chocolate vow or something.

While I have my favorite “go to” recipe (it’s the one on the back of Kroger Brand Cocoa – can you say, “Never fail?”), I also love to try as many different hot chocolate recipes as possible. There are millions out there!

Quite a few years ago (probably around 10 actually), I checked out a really, really fun cookbook from a local library. It was More than Moonshine: Appalachian Recipes and Recollections and I fell in love with so many of the recipes that I wrote just about all of them down. I’ve been meaning to order a copy off of Amazon – I noticed they have some available. I think I’ll go grab one as soon as I finish here.

One of the recipes in this adorable and highly unique little book was for Hot Chocolate. It’s extraordinary, so I guess the good people of the Appalachian Mountains knew as much about chocolate as they did moonshine.

Hot Chocolate

Mix cocoa, sugar, and flour together in a saucepan; add water, and boil until somewhat thickened. Add the milk, vanilla, salt, and stir well.

Let come near boiling point, but do not boil. Put marshmallows in bottom of each cup and pour hot chocolate.

Yield: Makes 2 Cups

* You can substitute 1/2 milk and 1/2 whipping cream for the milk – but if you do so, DO NOT add the flour. (This is the way I always go – for some reason the thought of flour in my hot chocolate seems too much like gravy to me.)

Star Wars fans are a fanatical group. They’re like Trekkies in that regard – once you get them talking about the movies, they’ll keep it up for hours. Sometimes days. Think Geek has something all Star Wars fans (and coffee fan for that matter) will LOVE: The Star Wars Breakfast Beverages Set. These adorable beverages make a fun and delicious gift idea.

From the Website:

We scoured the galaxy far, far away for the beverages that get humans, aliens, and droids alike buzzing with energy. Here’s what we found:

Vader’s Dark Side Roast Coffee is commonly enjoyed by Dark Lords of the Sith while planning new Death Star construction, but is also enjoyed in the break room by your common stormtrooper. This hand roasted coffee is a true taste of the Dark Side. A blend of three diverse coffees and two different roasts creates a full-bodied, sharp, cup with spicy undertones and smoky, dark-roasted complexity. Give into your anger and sample a steaming cup and you will be rewarded with power beyond your imagination.

Dagobah Green Tea is the drink of choice of Jedi Masters. Just because a planet is devoid of civilization doesn’t mean it’s not civilized. Deep in the jungles of Dagobah grow the most delicious green tea leaves in the galaxy. If you need a moment alone to ponder the Force, do it while sipping a hot cup of Yoda’s favorite tea.

Finally, Hoth Cocoa is guaranteed to warm you all the way to your bones. It’s the preferred beverage of the Rebels of Echo Base. All you need are warm hand-knitted socks. When life gives you snow, melt it into water and use it to make a steaming cup of rich, creamy Hoth Cocoa.

Choose your breakfast beverage wisely. The fate of the galaxy depends on you.

One of the most popular posts I’ve ever had on this blog involved Starbuck’s Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. I still get e-mails about it, people wondering how to make it at home and if I have any idea if they’ll bring it back or not. My fingers are crossed that they’ll bring it back next fall or winter. Fingers crossed.

However, with a little creativity, you could actually have one now. I was in one of my local Starbucks recently (inside the Owensboro, Kentucky Target), talking to a super friendly barista. As she was fixing my Earl Grey Latte, I told her how much I missed the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. She said that a lot of customers said the same thing. She said that customers could still have them made except for the sea salt that goes on top.

Here’s the kicker – the mixture that they top the drink off with is a combination of sea salt and raw sugar. She pointed to the counter where they have cinnamon, sugar, etc. setting out and said that if I ever had a little sea salt – all I’d have to do is throw a little bit of it on top with a little raw sugar and bada bing, Heaven in a cup.

If you want to attempt the deliciousness at home, it’s entirely possible thanks to Starbucks Gourmet Hot Cocoa. Seriously, load up on the stuff.

When you’ve made your own cup of hot cocoa, put some whipped topping on top, drizzle on thick caramel, and finish off with a dash of sea salt and raw sugar on top of that.

Your orders for the day: Find the Starbucks nearest you and get thyself to it Godspeed. Walk in like you own the place (that’s my M.O. anyway) and order a Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate. Don’t let the word “salted” trip you up. It’s just a little perfectly Heavenly salt ground on top. It compliments the whole shebang in a way that ought to be illegal in 49 states. We’ll let Texas get away with it, they’re bigger than we are.

Starbucks regular Hot Chocolate is completely delicious, itself. In the fall and winter, I go back and forth between Hot Chocolate, Apple Cider (delicious!) and one of my greatest addictions – Chai Tea. But since I tried the Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate, I’ve kind of been stuck. Funny, but I seldom actually get coffee at Starbucks. I guess it’s because I always have coffee made at home (and often with Starbucks coffee beans), so getting it out doesn’t make a lot of sense.

Of course, my husband would say I don’t order coffee at Starbucks because it’s cheaper than the other drinks, and that goes against something I stand for.

*Sniff* I love how he knows me so well.

By the way (or “Buy the way”), the link below will take you to a site called Coffee For Less. I’ve used the link that’ll hook you up with one of my favorite coffee beans: Starbucks Caffee Verona. It’s bold, aromatic, and makes you happy to be alive.

My oldest daughter, Emily, loves hot drinks. Coffee, tea, apple cider, hot chocolate – when she has a hot mug of something special, she’s in her own little personal Heaven. So when comes home from either work or school, I like to have something waiting on her when she walks through the door. The drink lights up her world at that moment and her smile does the same for mine.

Yesterday was a long day for her – school AND work, so I thought that called for hot chocolate. You know how it is, some things just go down better with chocolate. I altered my favorite Hot Chocolate recipe a little bit and we were both tickled silly with the outcome.

Heat the chocolate and water in a saucepan over medium heat – stirring constantly, until the chocolate’s melted. Stir in the sugar and dash of salt. Stir. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to low. Simmer (while stirring constantly) for 3 minutes and add the teaspoon of Imitation Brandy flavoring. Simmer and stir for 1 more minute..

Stir in the milk. Heat, slowly, until hot. DO NOT BOIL. Beat with a wire whisk until foamy and serve to a delighted recipient.

I actually just lost myself in a world of chocolate last night. In addition to the hot chocolate, I made chocolate cupcakes with chocolate chips, served with chocolate frosting with chocolate sprinkles. That had all three daughters and one husband in chocolate Heaven.